Reuters – Italy will issue nearly 500,000 new work visas for non-EU nationals from 2026 to 2028, a cabinet statement said on Monday, as part of a strategy to expand legal immigration channels in response to labour shortages. A total 164,850 people will be allowed in next year, aiming to reach a cumulative total of…
A high-powered CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) delegation of Indian CEOs representing sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, renewable energy, education, and tourism met with Sri Lankan business leaders at the ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo on June 30 for a strategic roundtable discussion. The roundtable was organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the…
Oman Air becomes 15th alliance member oneworld customers now have access to Oman Air’s route network throughout the Middle East, Far East, Africa and Europe Oman Air customers gain access to oneworld benefits across the network of more than 900 global destinations oneworld® today welcomes Oman Air as its 15th member airline. As the flag carrier…
In a landmark move to accelerate the growth of impact-driven enterprises in Sri Lanka, the Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) and Good Market have entered into a strategic partnership focused on unlocking new pathways for investment and enterprise development. The collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Saturday, June…
Sri Lanka’s external sector continued to show resilience in the first five months of 2025, with the current account maintaining surpluses throughout the period, supported by higher remittance inflows and a recovery in tourism. The country’s merchandise trade deficit widened in May 2025 compared to a year earlier, driven by a faster year-on-year growth in…
Sri Lanka’s export industries – especially the apparel sector, have long depended on efficient tax mechanisms to remain competitive in global markets. But one persistent bottleneck has threatened that edge for years: the country’s complex and delayed VAT refund process. This challenge is not new. In the early 2000s, a major VAT fraud case shook…
The Ministry of Finance is pleased to announce the launch of the Special Interest Scheme for Senior Citizens – 2025, effective from July 1, 2025, as approved by the Cabinet of Ministers under the Budget 2025 proposals. This scheme aims to provide additional financial support to senior citizens in Sri Lanka by offering enhanced returns…
A high-level delegation of Chief Executive Officers from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) met with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, at the Parliament of Sri Lanka on June 30. The Prime Minister conveyed her appreciation for the continued partnership between India and Sri Lanka, particularly in advancing the country’s ongoing…
Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Construction (PMI – Construction), as indicated by the Total Activity Index, rebounded to 59.7 in May 2025. Most of the survey respondents mentioned that construction activities regained momentum in May, recovering from the slowdown in the April festive season. The respondents reported an increase in the awarding of new…
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has announced that steps are underway to initiate job opportunities under the E-8 visa category for seasonal employment in South Korea. Chairman of the bureau, Kosala Wickramasinghe, stated that the proposal for this initiative has already been submitted for Cabinet approval. Upon receiving the necessary approval, Memoranda…
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